WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT CANADA'S MIGUASHA NATIONAL PARK?

Canada's Miguasha National Park is a treasure trove of natural history, as it holds within  it priceless fossils that educate us about what was in the world millions of years ago.

Spanning more than 215 acres, the Miguasha National Park is located on the southern coast of the Gaspe peninsula in Quebec, Canada. Unlike most parks around the world, this Park is not popular for its animals, plants, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, or marine creatures living today. However, it is an extremely important region to trace the history of the planet's wildlife as we know it, thanks to the fossils in this area.

On the shore of the peninsula are remarkably well-preserved fossil beds from the Devonian period (see box), from millions of years ago. From vertebrates and invertebrates (such as lobe-finned fishes) to plants, algae, and several microorganisms, the astonishing biodiversity of these fossils offers scientists much more than just a glimpse of Devonian life. Even though there are more than 50 Devonian period fossil sites across the globe, "none matches Miguasha in abundance of specimens, quality of fossil preservation and representation of evolutionary events for vertebrates".

Discovered in 1842, the site has been of great scientific interest and significance the world over, and fossil specimens from the location were sent to museums and universities for studies. In 1999, the Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is considered "the world's most outstanding illustration of the Devonian Period".

Past  forward

The most important contribution of the Miguasha National Park to the study of evolution is through the largest number of and best-preserved fossil specimens of the lobe-finned fish that gave rise to the first four-legged. air-breathing, terrestrial vertebrates the tetrapods

Among the fossils that made Miguasha popular are 21 species of fish fossils. And the most significant among them? The Eusthenopteron foordi- the extinct lobe-finned fish fossil. It is this creature's "limblike fins and two-way gills-and-lungs respiratory system that led to the present understanding of evolution from fish to four-limbed, land-dwelling vertebrates". And not surprisingly, this specimen has been named "the Prince of Miguasha"!

Good news but...

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the conservation outlook for this site has been assessed as "good" in the latest assessment cycle (2020).

In fact rigorous and continuous fieldwork and research initiatives have resulted in the discovery of new fossils and resultant inferences on how Devonian fishes and tetrapods evolved over a period of time. Though fossil sites have the potential to be disturbed or damaged by human activity, this site is "secure and well protected". "Overall site management and protection can be rated as mostly or highly effective."

In addition to the research initiatives. the educational outreach programmes and "interpretive facilities for visitors" too have been impressive enough to create awareness.

Picture Credit : Google 

WHY DO FIREFLIES GLOW AND BLINK?

Apparently, there are over 2,000 species of fireflies, also known as lightning bugs. They emit tiny flashes of light in the dark, which is what gives them their names. However, the latter part of their names is misleading - they are neither flies nor bugs. So, what are they, and why do they emit light?

Fireflies are basically beetles, and most of them have wings. Inhabiting humid areas in Asia and the Americas, the (adult) insects invariably feed on nectar and plant pollen. The larvae of these beetles feed on worms, snails, and insects. These omnivores have a lifespan of about two months, and grow up to be about an inch.

Fireflies have organs under their abdomens that absorb Oxygen. This oxygen mixes with a compound called luciferin, present in the organism. This results in the light that appears at the ends of their abdomen.

So, what is the purpose of this light? The light they emit is used as a means to communicate with other fireflies, and also to find a mate. It is interesting to note that the light-emitting patterns among different firefly species are unique. Despite attracting attention to themselves with their light, fireflies are largely safe from birds or other creatures. This is because fireflies "release drops of toxic, foul-tasting blood". Also, their "flashing is a warning light to predators to stay away". It is said that these "dazzling beetles are disappearing from long-established habitats".

Though they are not in grave danger right now, factors such as habitat loss, pesticides, night-time lights, water and air pollution, etc. may affect them in the long run.

Did you know?

Though both fireflies and glow worms are bioluminescent (emitting light), they are different. Just like fireflies aren't flies at all, glow worms aren't worms either. Glow worms are actually the larvae of a mosquito-like fly.

Picture Credit : Google 

HOW DID GOLD GET HERE ON EARTH?

Have you ever wondered where precious metals like gold come from? Or how they became embedded in the deep crevices of our planet?

A gift from the stars

Gold is extraterrestrial. This means instead of arising from our planet's rocky terrain, this metal was actually created in space. Its presence on the Earth is a consequence of the cataclysmic explosions called supernovae. This powerful and luminous explosion occurs towards the end of a star's life.

Supernova

Matter is made up of atoms. These atoms consist of subatomic particles like protons (positively charged particles), electrons (which have a negative charge) and neutrons (neutral particles that form the centre of an atom). The region of an atom that accommodates neutrons is called a nucleus.

When two or more atoms' nuclei (plural of nucleus) merge to form a heavier atom, a large amount of energy is dissipated into the surrounding. This process is known as nuclear fusion.

Stars are mostly made up of hydrogen, which is the simplest and the lightest of all the elements. With time, the enormous gravitational pressure of so much material compresses and triggers nuclear fusion in a star's core.

The energy released due to this fusion is the reason why stars shine. Over millions of years, this fusion transforms hydrogen into heavier elements like helium, carbon, and oxygen. These heavier elements burn faster and faster to make iron and nickel.

Towards the last phase of a stars life, this fusion is unable to release enough energy, and the pressure from the core forces the outer layers of the heavenly body to collapse into the centre. This sudden injection of energy results in the explosion of the star or a supernova.

The pressure of this explosion is so high that it forces various subatomic particles to fuse and form neutrons. These neutrons are then captured and combined by the residual heavy metals from the star. This leads to the formation of heavier elements like gold, silver, lead and even uranium. The formation of heavy metals in a supernova takes place within seconds.

The remnants of supernova

The expanding shock wave from the explosion propels the remnants through space. The supernova debris enriches the space clouds and condenses to form new planets and stars.

Researchers have found that Earth's reserve of gold is most likely a direct consequence of this phenomenon. This would mean that the cosmic cloud that condensed to form our planet had gold particles, which were then kneaded into the planet's crust due to the movement of the tectonic plates and other Geo-thermal activities.

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT IS TOMATO FLUE?

According to reports, "tomato flu" is detected in children in Tamil Nadu's neighbouring State, Kerala. In a bid to stop the mysterious flu from spreading to Tamil Nadu, a medical team is carrying out tests on those entering Coimbatore for fever, rashes and other illness at Walayar checkpost on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. But what is this new flu and what are its symptoms? Let's find out.

Over 80 children below five years of age in Kollam district in Kerala are suffering from what is called "tomato flu", an unidentified fever. What is of concern is that the number from this rare viral infection is predicted to go up.

Symptoms

Infected children experience skin irritation, and develop huge red blisters on different parts of the body, and hence the name "tomato flu." They feel dehydrated and run a high temperature. It is said that the symptoms of the tomato flu are very much like in a chikungunya infection.

Besides a high fever, skin irritation and blisters, the symptoms of the tomato flu include fatigue, body ache, swelling in joints, coughing, sneezing, and runny nose. Some children reportedly experience abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. With the cause of the fever still not known, parents should exercise caution. As of now, there is no specific medicine to treat this fever.

WHEN IN DOUBT ABOUT THE INFECTION...

*Consult a doctor immediately if you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms.

*Drink a lot of boiled-and-chilled water to stay hydrated.

*Stay indoors and take ample rest.

*Keep yourself isolated and avoid close contact with family members, as this infection is likely to spread from person to person.

Do not scratch the blisters as it may spread the infection.

Last but not least, maintain hygiene.

Picture Credit : Google 

WE RUN AT THE MOST ENERGY-EFFICIENT SPEED

Be it a race during your sports day or a marathon held in your city, a common goal that most runners have is to keep getting faster. A study published in the journal Current Biology late in April 2022, however, suggests that speeding up might require defying our natural biology.

A research group consisting of scientists from Queens University in Ontario and Stanford University in California have been studying the mechanics of running in labs for 15 years. They were able to combine their lab data with data obtained from runners running in the wild.

Conserve caloric loss

For data of runners running in the wild, the scientists accessed 37,000 runs that were recorded on wearable fitness trackers. The combined data helped scientists find out that humans' natural tendency is to run at such a speed that conserves caloric loss.

The researchers were surprised at the consistency that they found across the combined data sets. As opposed to the popular assumption that people run faster for short distances and would slow down for longer distances, the scientists were able to show that most runners who were analysed maintained the same speed, irrespective of the distance they ran for a particular activity.

Reasons for running have changed

 While this technique makes sense from an evolutionary perspective, it does not in the modern world. Caloric conservation and running at a speed that uses the least amount of energy would have greatly helped our hunter-gatherer ancestors. With the link between running and survival diminishing, the reasons for running have changed dramatically in today's world.

Even though the goal of running faster defies our natural biology, it is still achievable. Picking faster running partners gives a boost to your own running speed. Even when running alone, listening to music with faster pace speeds up stride frequency, which in turn leads to increased running speed.

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT IS A BAYMOUTH BAR?

When the movement of waves deposits gravel and sand in a manner that prevents access to a bay, it builds up a baymouth bar. The existence of the bar creates a shallow lake known as a lagoon that is separated from the sea by a beach.

A baymouth bar is a depositional feature as a result of longshore drift. It is a spit that completely closes access to a bay, thus sealing it off from the main body of water. These bars usually consist of accumulated gravel and sand carried by the current of longshore drift and deposited at a less turbulent part of the current. Thus, they most commonly occur across artificial bay and river entrances due to the loss of kinetic energy in the current after wave refraction.

In most cases, a Sand Bypass System is built to prevent these bars forming across the entrance of man-made seaway's, eliminating the danger posed to commercial and recreational boat owners passing through.

credit: en-academic.com

Picture Credit : Google 

HOW TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED THE WAY STUDENTS LEARN TODAY?

The digital revolution has penetrated extensively across the country, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The biggest beneficiaries of the use of technology have been students.

From Wordle to Google classroom, to reels and YouTube channels the digital revolution that began in India in the 90s has penetrated extensively across the country, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Every person with a smartphone is now connected globally via the Internet and has some input (whether in the form of text. photos, videos, audios and charts) to share with the public at large.

The biggest beneficiaries of the use of technology have been the student community. Even before the pandemic most academic institutions had shifted their attention to collaborative instruction by introducing audio-visual elements. However, the forms of communication and collaboration that occurred in online teaching is something that was previously unheard of.

Easy access to information

For years, the teacher was considered the primary source of information and the learners passively received it. This model is still very much in evidence today. However, because of the access to information and educational opportunities that technology offers, the teacher now plays the role of a guide and mentor. Students these days take more responsibility for their own learning, using technology to gather relevant information. They collaborate on group projects using technology-based tools such as wikis and Google docs.

Some of the strongest technology buzzwords in recent years are distance learning, big data, machine learning and Internet of Things (IoT). Eventually, it all boils down to integrating technology into our lives, making learning easier.

Educators bring valuable knowledge to learners, both in theory and in real life. But smart educators are those who can create lessons, enabled by technology, and based on what students want to learn. For instance, eLearning is education or training delivered electronically. It can be in the form of slide-based online activities or an online course that helps a business train employees in necessary skills. This content is delivered to learners through computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. The decision-making factor, in this scenario, encourages learners to make their own choices on what they want to study next.

New-age scenario

Video-assisted learning is another interesting trend. In this case, animated videos are used to teach lessons, making content easier to understand. Such videos reduce a teacher's workload and are believed to improve the performance of students.

Then there is blockchain technology which is used in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and ePortfolios to verify skills and knowledge. The Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) in blockchain is beneficial when it comes to data storage. Every time new data is added, it adds another "block" to the system, so the storage is technically limitless.

From hospitals to newsrooms, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a ubiquitous presence. Al can automate basic activities in education, like grading. It is now possible for teachers to automate grading when it comes to multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions. Next comes immersive learning with VR and AR. The classroom experience has undergone a tremendous change since the introduction of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in education. The rise in demand for experiential learning has led to a push in the development of learning with VR and AR. The former provides a constructed reality, while AR gives an enhanced view of a real image. Thus, they help explain complex concepts that plain images or even a lab's hands-on experiments cannot do.

Learning with creativity

STEM  programmes are now STEAM, with the inclusion of Art. This new trend offers meaningful science, technology, engineering, art and math content to solve real-world problems through hands-on learning activities and creative design. It also creates a safe environment for learners to express and experience their ideas while thinking outside the box.

*STEM  programmes are designed to develop a learners skills in science, technology, engineering and maths.

Did you know

Many educational institutes have started using social media as a communication tool in which students can share study materials, discuss with others in a group, or easily comment on someone else's post.

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT ARE BEACH GROYNES?

Man-made, shore protection measures to reduce erosion. Constructed of wood or stone, groynes control the movement of water rushing onto the beach and prevent sand from being swept away by the waves. A number of groynes usually run perpendicular to the shore and extend up to the sea.

A groyne is a rigid hydraulic structure built perpendicularly from an ocean shore (in coastal engineering) or a river bank, interrupting water flow and limiting the movement of sediment. It is usually made out of wood, concrete, or stone. In the ocean, groynes create beaches, prevent beach erosion caused by longshore drift where this is the dominant process and facilitate beach nourishment. There is also often cross-shore movement which if longer than the groyne will limit its effectiveness. In a river, groynes slow down the process of erosion and prevent ice-jamming, which in turn aids navigation.

Groynes run generally perpendicular to the shore, extending from the upper foreshore or beach into the water. All of a groyne may be underwater, in which case it is a submerged groyne. They are often used in tandem with seawalls and other coastal engineering features. Groynes, however, may cause a shoreline to be perceived as unnatural. Groynes are generally straight but could be of various plan view shapes, permeable or impermeable, built from various materials such as wood, sand, stone rubble, or gabion, etc.

Credit: Wikipedia

Picture Credit : Google 

WHICH IS THE LARGEST BLOWHOLE?

The Kiama Blowhole is a blowhole in the town of Kiama, New South Wales, Australia. The name ‘Kiama’ has long been translated as “where the sea makes a noise”. It is one of the town's major tourist attractions. Under certain sea conditions, the blowhole can spray 50 litres of water up to 25 metres (82 ft) in the air, in quantities that thoroughly drench any bystanders. There is a second, less famous blowhole in Kiama, commonly referred to as the "Little Blowhole" by locals. It is much smaller than the other (called the "Big Blowhole"), but due to its narrow shape, it is more reliable than the Big Blowhole, and in the right conditions can be equally spectacular.

The blowhole attracts 900,000 tourists a year. Kiama Blowhole is just a few metres beyond the coastline. The "little blowhole" is located at the Little Blowhole Reserve, Tingira Crescent, Kiama, 2km south of the main blowhole.

The blowhole was formed from basalt lava flows approximately 260 million years ago and was first discovered by local Aboriginals who named it 'Khanterinte'. The blowhole was first written about by George Bass on 6 December 1797. Bass had captained a crew of six and set out on an open whaleboat to explore the south coast of Australia. He noticed the blowhole after anchoring his boat in a sheltered bay.

Credit: Wikipedia

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT IS A TOMBOLO?

Tombolo, one or more sandbars or spits that connect an island to the mainland. A single tombolo may connect a tied island to the mainland, as at Marblehead, Mass. A double tombolo encloses a lagoon that eventually fills with sediment; fine examples of these occur off the coast of Italy. The shallower waters that occur between an island and the mainland are the loci of such features because sandbars form there.

Adam’s Bridge, which connected Sri Lanka (Ceylon) with India across the 33-mile (53-kilometre) wide Palk Strait, was formerly the world’s largest tombolo. It was destroyed several thousand years ago by a slight change in mean sea level, and only a chain of sandbanks that seriously hinder navigation exists there today.

Credit: Britannica

Picture credit: Wikipedia

 

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT TWELVE APOSTLES MARINE NATIONAL PARK, AUSTRALIA?

The Twelve Apostles Marine National Park is a protected marine national park located on the south-west coast of Victoria, Australia. The 7,500-hectare (19,000-acre) marine park is situated near Port Campbell and is named after the scenic The Twelve Apostles rock stacks, and contains the wreck of the clipper Loch Ard, wrecked on Mutton Bird Island in 1878. The marine park borders Port Campbell and Great Otway National Parks.

The limestone unit that forms The Twelve Apostles is referred to as the Port Campbell Limestone, which was deposited in the Mid-Late Miocene, around 15 to 5 million years ago.

The Twelve Apostles were formed by erosion. The harsh and extreme weather conditions from the Southern Ocean gradually erode the soft limestone to form caves in the cliffs, which then become arches that eventually collapse, leaving rock stacks up to 50 m (160 ft) high. The stacks are susceptible to further erosion from waves. In July 2005, a 50-metre-tall (160 ft) stack collapsed, leaving seven standing at the Twelve Apostles viewpoint. Due to wave action eroding the cliffs, existing headlands are expected to become new limestone stacks in the future.

The stacks were originally known as the Pinnacles, and the Sow and Pigs (or Sow and Piglets, with Mutton bird Island being the Sow and the smaller rock stacks being the Piglets), as well as the Twelve Apostles. The formation's name was made official as the Twelve Apostles, despite only ever having had eight stacks.

Credit: Wikipedia

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT IS A SEA STACK?

A sea stack is a vertical column of rock near a coast. This column is the remains of limestone cliffs that have been battered by the sea from both sides. At first, the waves carve out deep caves in the cliffs, which then gradually collapse, leaving behind the steep stack of rocks.

By definition, a sea stack is a naturally occurring pillar made up of stacked rocks, that projects up towards the sky. It is usually found surrounded by water, especially during high tide, isolated and separate from the mainland mass at a small distance away. During low tide, the water recedes far enough so that some sea stacks become accessible via the beach.

Standing at the foot of a sea stack, looking up at that magnificent, yet oddly placed rock formation, one is likely to wonder how exactly did it get there? While the possibility of a divine hand at work might seem alluring, the truth is actually a little more interesting. These grand structures of rocks are actually created by the erosive powers of waves and winds.

Sea stacks are formed from headlands. A headland is a coastal land-form that is quite high, and has a sheer drop that extends out into the sea or ocean. Parts of the headland that jut out into the water slowly get eroded over time by the mechanical energy of winds and waves. Essentially, the softer and weaker part of the rocks get eroded and break away, leaving behind the harder and stronger rock.

The formation process usually begins when water starts smashing against the portion of the headland rock that is jutting out, causing it to slowly erode. Coastal winds too assist in this process. Both, waves and winds chisel away at the rocks continuously for many years, until finally, a cave is formed.

Credit: Science Struck

Picture Credit : Google 

WHY DO EARS POP IN A PLANE?

The popping sensation in the ears is caused by the effect of the changes in pressure and altitude. The most important part of the ear is the eardrum, a thin membrane separating the outer ear from the middle ear. Equal air pressure is maintained on both sides of the membrane by the Eustachian tube, a tube which connects the ear and the throat. Sudden changes in the air pressure like when going up or down in an aeroplane stretches the eardrum, causing discomfort. The Eustachian tube tries to normalise the pressure by forcing more air into the ear internally through. yawning or swallowing. This adjustment creates the popping sound which indicates that the air pressure is back to normal in the ear. Ears may pop even when you travel in a high speed elevator of a tall building or go scuba diving.

Picture Credit : Google 

WHY ARE CAR TYRES FILLED WITH AIR? CAN’T THEY BE FILLED WITH WATER ?

Air is compressible, water is not. When the tyre hits a bump or drops into a depression on the road, the impact pushes the air in the tyre into a smaller space. Thus the shock of the impact is absorbed by the cushion of air in the tyre, and is not passed on to the body of the car and consequently to the passengers.

Water cannot get compressed in this way. If a water-filled tyre were to hit a bump on the road, the water would retain its rigidity. As a result, the shock of impact would be passed on to the body of the car, jolting the passengers.

Secondly, water-filled tyres would increase the weight of the wheels and the vehicle would have to overcome greater rolling resistance. This would increase the load on the engine.

Picture Credit : Google